Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary

Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary is 52 km from Panaji in the foothills of the Western Ghats in Goa. 8 km² in size, Bondla is "rather small" even by official accounts. It includes a Mini Zoo, Deer Safari Park, Formal Gardens, Botanic Gardens and a few Ecotourism Cottages.

Get in

By road

Bondla is off National Highway 4A that connects Belgaum with Panjim. Branch off at Mollem.

Route: Mollem-Satpal Sancorda-Shivddem-Bondla (20 km). Branch off at Tiska Route: Tiska - Usgaon - Ganhem - Bondla (14 km).

Route: Margao-Ponda-Usgao-Ganjem-Bondla (36 km) Panjim-Ponda-Usgao-Ganjem-Bondla (52 km).

By rail

Collem (on the Mormugao-Hubli line). Route: Collem-Mollem-Sancorda-Shivddem-Bondla: 28 km.

Carambolim (Karmali Railway Station, on Konkan Railway) Route: Carambolim-Old Goa-Ponda-Usgao-Ganjem-Bondla: 40 km.

By plane

Dabolim-Ponda-Usgao-Ganjem-Bondla (70 km)

Get around

The Forest Department has announced that it is contemplating to run a bus service from Tiska to Bondla everyday, except Thursday. Dep. Tiska 11:00 and 19:30 Dep. Bondla 07:30 and 17:45. Many people travel via their own transport. Hired taxi is a "little bit costly" as the Forest Department cautions.

See

There are botanical gardens, a zoo and a deer park. The gardens are very pleasant, while there has been some criticism of the state in which the animals are maintained. There are elephant rides offered in the afternoons, around 16:00.

Late evenings and nights out there can be interesting. It has moist deciduous forests, small patches of evergreens, and Goa's state tree Terminalia Crenulata (Matti) and Rosewood are common here.

To see Goa's state animal, the gaur, you need to go here too. You could run into panther, jungle cat, leopard cat, toddy cat, deer, wild boars, porcupines, ant eaters, or squirrels are some of the other animals here. Over a hundred species of birds are believed to be here, and Goa's growing romance with British birdwatchers is building awareness in this area.

Do

• Zoological Park - A tiny zoo in moated enclosures with natural surroundings. A few elephant, panther, lion, gaur, sambar, deers, sloth bear, porcupine, wild boar, crocodiles, and reptiles.
• Deer Safari Park - Visitors can move among deers in vehicles inside the Deer Safari Park housing sambar and spotted deers.
• Formal Gardens - Lawns, exotic trees, varieties of roses, and colourful flowering plants in the middle of the forest.
• Botanical Gardens - Collection of plants.
• Nature Education Centre - Exhibits to see, feel and interpret. An attached library, with video movies screened on request.
• Birdwatch - Bondla is home to over a hundred bird species. For details on bird-watching areas contact the Park Range Office.
• See wild animals You need to scan from watch towers, to spy gaur, sambar, and wild boar at water-holes. You need luck too.
• Nature trails - For the more energetic.
• Archaeological exhibit - Deity Gajalaxmi with several motifs in bold relief, from the sixth to eighth century venerated by ancient settlers are located here.

The zoo, deer safari, and garden are closed on Monday.

Buy

There is not much to purchase here, except a few touristy items, snacks and a modest guidebook or two. This is a no-plastics zone.

Eat

Small restaurants in the area.

The Den at Bondla was not as expected even in the simple of menu!

Drink

As above, a few restaurants here.

Sleep

Ecotourism cottages here can accommodate 24 persons. Two dormitories have a total of 48 beds. A restaurant called The Den is available too. There is a Hornbill Cottage at the Ecotourism Complex, Bondla.

Go next

Usually on your own or hired transport. Don't depend on public transport here.